It looked much better to me this way.I don't necessarily 'see' anything(although it 'feels' like a city street)but i like it better this way.It just feels more balanced somehow.And remember this?Yeah, i added dots. :)Kind of inspired by Matisse.

when i did this one (above),i was thinking about the state of the worldand how often I do feel like it's crazy in so many waysBut then, history teaches usthat it's always been this way.There have always been wars.There have always been people who doterrible things to one another.There has always been racismand hatredand mental illnessand disease and illnessand misplaced power.But there has also always been love.And ordinary people who do extraordinary things.And beauty.And moments of grace.

There are 7.4 people on this planet.

It's crazy to expect that they're all gonna be good.

I bought my son this bookfor his birthday last week.So many stories in here remind methat we don't all get the same chance in life.It's far too easy to judge or criticize someonewithout knowing anything about them.Everyone is going through SOMETHING in life.

This man's story broke my fucking heart...

And to end things on a lighter note -my son and I went to a concert last week!We saw Ron Sexsmithat the beautiful Capitol Theatre,here in Moncton, New Brunswick.

The theatre is about 100 years old,sits about 800 people and the sound is always so good.

Friday, February 5, 2016

If you have attempted to fit whatever moldand failed to do so, you are probably lucky.You may be an exile of some sort,but you have sheltered your soul.- Dr. EstesI heard a comment from someone the other daythat reminded me that there are still far too many peoplewho see the artist as a fuzzy kind ofthey still don't know what they wanna dowith their lives and they're too lazyto do anything elsekind of profession.Many years ago, the father of a friendasked me what i did for a living.When i replied that I was an artist,his response was, with the flip of a hand:"oh, well then you must be poor."and he walked away.And he said it with a straight, serious face.He was far too importantto waste his time with an artist.He was a business man with money.I was just an artist.(today, I'd tell him to fuck off.But back then, I was less confident)

I went away feeling tornwith the thoughts in my headflying around like annoying mosquitos.Maybe he's right.I'll never have money.Maybe i should do something else.This is too hard.I should pick something more stable.

Thankfully, I stayed on my path.I surrounded myselfwith people who encouraged me,and kept voices like hisas far away from me as possible.No it wasn't always easy,no, I didn't make a lot of money,but like most things that aren't easy,life in the arts is so worth it.(especially when that's who you are!)It took me years to developthe confidence i neededto be able to stand in my own lightand to be proud to say:I.AM.AN.ARTIST.

Without justification.Without shame.Without feeling any lessintelligentor ambitiousor educatedor capableor important than anyone else.It took me yearsto understandwhat my work was worth.

Not in terms of money,but in terms of meaning,for me and others,and ultimately,the world.Yes. The world.That's how big I see things nowbecause i believe in the ripple effect.I believe that if ONE person is inspiredby someone or something,if ONE person sees somethingthat makes them happy,then they in turn will inspire others.At the very least, they will be happier themselvesfor a moment in time,and if they are happier for a moment,chances are, they will spread their joyand make someone else happy too.

I'm not convinced that money can do this.(there are a lot of lonely rich people in the world).I did this quick painting outlinea few nights ago,and as soon as i did the 3 "plants",i decided to scrap it(by putting a black line through it!)

Once the black line was there,I looked at it and decidedto add more black lines through it...connecting the lines here and there

At this point, it made sense to add some color...

and a few more colors...

and more still.The lighting is bad here,but as you can see -i think it's been revived!

I'm not sure i'm done with it..

i'll post an update if i do anything else to it.

And this quick sketch of me & my thoughts...

i made myself prettier.

And thinner ;)

If you know someonewho wants to be an artistor an actoror a writeror a danceror a poetor a musician...especially if they're young & just starting out,ENCOURAGE THEM to stay with it!Society doesn't make it easy for them.The world doesn't make it easy for them.Tell them to keep going.Tell them it takes a lot of guts to do what they're doing.Tell them they'll need to get comfortablewith uncertainty.With not always being rewarded financially.With questions and assumptionsand judgement from others.But tell them to KEEP GOING ANYWAY.The world needs them nowmore than ever.xx

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About Me

hi, my name is Pauline.
I'm an artist, a writer, a graphic designer, a life enthusiast, a nature lover, a smile seeker, a curious heart, and a book fanatic. Grab a cup of tea, a glass of wine, whatever your little heart desires and stay a while...
Thanks for being here.